Page 4 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 87

4 Issue #87 February 2020

“Our Dedication Will Move You!”

727 First St. East,
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Jim Riddell’s Sports Talk with Area Seniors

Dave Alguire

ave Alguire grew up on his seasons for the Magedonia’s, a team
Dfamily’s United Empire Loyalist named after an old Brockville hotel.
dairy farm, which was bordered on one “That was the end of my lacrosse
side by Cornwall Center Road. There career; it wasn’t a long one, - maybe
were horses and a pony on the farm and ten years. I had the best equipment
often some of the kids from Rosedale available, but I think that I was bruised
Terrace, then in its early stages, would the whole time I played.”
come to horseback ride. Several years Dave began playing organized
later, Dave started dating and eventually hockey at the age of fourteen, trying
married one of those girls who would out and being the last cut for the Jr.
come to visit - Susan Grant. Susan
B Royals. Dave went on to play for a
and Dave have four children: Crystal, Long Sault team coached by David Hill
Angie, Allison, and Doug.
and Bill Rae, and he also filled in for a
There was a large pond on the team in the Long Sault Senior League.
property where the Alguire brothers In 1969-70, Dave served as one of
and their friends played hockey each the back-up goalies for the Cornwall
winter. “I was always a goalie in hockey Royals, behind future NHL and HOF
and never had any desire to play out. In goalie, Billy Smith. “There was no
baseball I was a catcher and I played such thing as a goalie tandem in those
goal in lacrosse. In each sport I played, days,” Dave mentions. “The back-up
there was always something coming at didn’t dress or sit on the bench - you
me! My first piece of equipment was were nearby in the stands and if needed
a goalie mask that I got one year for you had to get ready in a hurry.”
Christmas. The following year when I Following Junior hockey, Dave
was ten or eleven, I got a small set of joined the Cornwall Hubs, a team
goalie pads and a catcher’s mitt - that that he describes as “a first-class
was the best Christmas that I ever had organization”. He still plays with the
as a kid. We had an outdoor attic on the Hubs today, having been with the team
farm that housed all kinds of treasures. for the past forty-nine years. The Hubs
My uncle was a WWII pilot and that’s played in quite a few tournaments at
where I found his old leather bomber Photo Submitted one point and once winning fourteen of
jacket which I stuffed and used as a had a great team that year, but we ended had never seen a paddy wagon in my them in a single season.
chest protector.”
up getting beaten out by the Morrisburg life before that, but there were five of When asked about the highlight of
Lacrosse was just becoming popular Mets for the right to play against them lined up being filled with fans! his sporting career, Dave says that it
in this area in the early 60’s, with Mississauga in a five-game series for Playing against Morrisburg was always is the Seaway Blades 2016 World Cup
games being played at the outdoor rink the Provincial Championship.” a real challenge because they had a very victory. “The World Cup is held every
in St. Andrews. The first year of junior Dave got picked up by the Mets “devoted” fan base. But as soon as I four years and is like the Olympics for
lacrosse, Dave played out. “I could joined the team, I become “one of the
due to their goalie being injured. “Del recreational hockey. We beat Sweden
run, but I was too small. That first year Jones was a very good goalie, but he guys”. A few years ago the team had a 1-0 in overtime in the final game.
I was playing for Long Sault and our had broken his wrist and couldn’t play reunion and I was invited. It was a great We were lucky, as we had double
goalie broke a toe, so having played in the series. The first two games were time and I had an opportunity to talk penalties back-to-back for almost the
the position in hockey, I volunteered in Morrisburg and we had no idea how with almost everyone.” full two minutes. We had to kill two
to take his place and I finished out the good Mississauga was going to be. We The following year saw Dave back 5-on-3’s, something that I had never
season in net.”
kept it close the first game, losing 9-6 with the Celtics, splitting time in the net seen before. At the banquet following
The following season, Dave received and then we got beat badly in Game with Rick Desrosiers who had played the tournament, they had the Swedish
a letter from the Cornwall Celtics 2. Game 3 was in Mississauga and it pro lacrosse in Montreal. That was goalie Robert Nyquist and I sitting
(which played in the highest Junior B didn’t go well – we were trailing 15-5 1970 and the Celtics went on to win the together, and they awarded the MVP to
level league in the area) asking him to with about 8 minutes left in the game Provincial Championship. Brockville both of us. Robert and I have stayed in
try out for the team. Dave not only made and a riot broke out. Fans started put a team in the league in 1971 and touch since and we may see each other
the team as the starter, but he went on jumping onto the floor – I took a look Dave and four others carpooled from again this April at the 2020 World Cup
to post the lowest GAA in Ontario. “We around and headed for the bench. I the Cornwall area to play the next two in Richmond, BC.”